The Pitch

The Pitch

By The Pitch | Startup Investing

Where real startup founders pitch to real investors—for real money. Forget everything you think you know about the world of venture capital. Host Josh Muccio takes listeners behind closed-doors and into the room where deals are made. Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Episodes

#129 RedDrop: Pitching the Big Vision

Monica Williams wants to revolutionize the period experience for tweens. With $5 million in sales in just two years, she’s on her way. Now she wants to raise venture to scale her bootstrapped company. Will Monica get to pitch the big vision for RedDrop or will investors write her off from the start? Featuring investors Elizabeth Yin, Charles Hudson, Beck Bamberger, Pascal Unger and Mac Conwell. ... Watch the RedDrop pitch on YouTube @thepitchshow To invest with the VCs on the show, join our investor community at thepitch.fund Founders can apply to pitch at our next recording event in San Francisco this June. No intro required, just go to pitch.show/apply Superfans can join The Pitch UNCUT and get early access to unedited versions of all ten pitches on season 11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
17/04/2442m 46s

#128 ChurchSpace: Airbnb for Churches

Growing up as a pastor's kid, Emmanuel Brown saw what a financial burden church real estate can be. Churches sit empty 70% of the week even though they have commercial kitchens and professional sound systems and oh so much space for activities! So Emmanuel built ChurchSpace, a church rental marketplace. He has faith in his business – but can he convert investors if they believe congregations are shrinking? Featuring investors Jillian Manus, Beck Bamberger and Mac Conwell. ... Watch the ChurchSpace pitch on YouTube @thepitchshow To invest with the VCs on the show, join our investor community at thepitch.fund Founders can apply to pitch at our next recording event in San Francisco this June. No intro required, just go to pitch.show/apply Superfans can join The Pitch UNCUT and get early access to unedited versions of all ten pitches on season 11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
10/04/2440m 58s

#127 Nectir: The Classroom of the Future

Kavitta Ghai struggled in school due to autism and ADHD until a positive experience with a college professor transformed her academic journey. Convinced this was the future, she launched a startup to make classrooms more accessible. Now, she just needs a VC to lead her $3 million seed round. Will Kavitta pass the test with the investors in The Pitch Room? Featuring investors Cyan Banister, Charles Hudson, Elizabeth Yin, Mac Conwell and Paige Finn Doherty. ... Watch the Nectir pitch on YouTube @thepitchshow To invest with the VCs on the show, join our investor community at thepitch.fund Founders can apply to pitch at our next recording event in San Francisco this June. No intro required, just go to pitch.show/apply Superfans can join The Pitch UNCUT and get early access to unedited versions of all ten pitches on season 11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
03/04/2452m 27s

Season 11: We're Bringing the Heat

The Pitch is back for season 11! Recorded for the first time in front of a live studio audience, we invited the top startup founders and VCs from across the country to join us in Miami. Visionary founders will pitch everything from pants you can pee in, to Airbnb for churches. And it wouldn’t be 2024 if we didn’t throw in some AI and alternative investments! Tune in to season 11 to hear the true story of how venture deals get done. And this season, a LOT of deals get done. Watch FULL episodes on YouTube this season @thepitchshow. Invest with us alongside top VCs via The Pitch Fund. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
20/03/243m 30s

#126 Handle: The Uncut Pitch

For our season 10 finale, we’re trying something crazy. We’re giving you a full pitch from start to finish with no editing whatsoever! Founder Chase Robbins presents his snack delivery business, Handle, to investors Paige Doherty, Neal Bloom, Elizabeth Yin, Mark Phillips and Charles Hudson. Will they back this college dropout who promises on-campus deliveries in 15-minutes or less? Or will they steer clear of a space that's seen billions of VC dollars go up in flames? You can also watch the Handle pitch on YouTube. To learn more about Chase's snack delivery startup and the investors featured on this episode, check out the Handle show page. Enjoying the podcast? Use this link to text a friend! Chapters: (0:00) Introduction and season finale announcement by Josh Muccio (1:30) Pitch by Chase Robbins, founder of Handle (3:22) Questions from investors about profitability, customer acquisition, and supplier base (9:43) Chase Robbins' plan for expansion and discussion on potential market size (13:54) Operational challenges, solutions, and current tests in the company (20:26) Discussion on delivery speed, customer retention, and the trust aspect in the business model (23:05) Neil Bloom's question about using delivery bots and future use of drones for delivery (25:20) Elizabeth Yin brings up the issue of student turnover and aging out of the demographic (34:53) Investors give their final thoughts and investment decisions (45:49) After The Pitch: Josh interviews Chase Robbins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
22/11/2359m 55s

#125 Locker: The Future of Online Shopping

Online shopping was supposed to make things easier. But with so many options, it’s also made our shopping experience more fragmented than ever. Kristine Locker set out to fix that with her social shopping app Locker. However, her target demographic is a couple generations behind most VCs. Can Kristine convince investors she has the solution to a problem they don’t experience or will they abandon this startup in the cart? You can also watch the Locker pitch on YouTube. Today’s investors are Beck Bamberger, Al Bsharah, Jillian Manus, and Howie Diamond. To learn more about Kristine's retail tech startup and the investors featured on this episode, check out the Locker show page. Enjoying the podcast? Use this link to text a friend! Chapters: (0:00) Introduction from Josh Muccio and overview of the episode (2:21) Kristine Locker's pitch for Locker (5:47) Discussion on possible B2B opportunities and go-to-market strategy for Locker (9:15) Deep dive into the team behind Locker and their vision for the next five years (12:58) Investor decisions and overall thoughts on the business (15:45) Investors debrief after Kristine leaves the room (18:34) After The Pitch: Kristine Locker shares updates on funding opportunities and challenges (21:45) Discussion on the future of retail and online commerce (24:14) Kristine's plans for Locker moving forward Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
15/11/2329m 12s

#124 ECGO: Turning Trash Into Treasure With AI

Ever stood at the recycling bin wondering, “Is this cup really recyclable?'' Enter Nicole Toole, the founder of ECGO, an AI-powered app designed to tackle this confusion. With ECGO, you snap a photo of any item, and the app will tell you how to properly dispose of it. But as mind-blowingly awesome as this is, the investors wonder how much money can you really make from trash when you’re selling to universities.  You can also watch the ECGO pitch on YouTube. Today’s investors are Elizabeth Yin, Erica Wenger, Jillian Manus, Martin Tobias and Charles Hudson. To learn more about Nicole's recycling startup and the investors featured on this episode, check out the ECGO show page. Enjoying the podcast? Use this link to text a friend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
08/11/2330m 17s

#123 Outlines: A Venture-Backed Shower Curtain?

Luke Barkley Young was tired of two things: companies that don’t take responsibility for products they put in the world and moldy shower liners. So he created Outlines, a circular subscription for all your home essentials. Their first product is a recyclable shower curtain. But it’s a rough environment out there for direct to consumer products. Will the VCs invest in Luke’s big vision for replenishables – or would that just be pouring money down the drain? You can also watch the Outlines pitch on YouTube. Today’s investors are Beck Bamberger, Al Bsharah, Jillian Manus, and Howie Diamond. If you would like to invest in Outlines, go to pitch.show/outlines To learn more about Luke's replenishment startup and the investors featured on this episode, check out the Outlines show page. Enjoying the podcast? Use this link to text a friend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
01/11/2332m 17s

#122 Wist: The Killer Use Case for VR?

Venture investors have spent the last decade searching for the killer use case for VR. Today’s founder, Andrew McHugh, thinks he’s found it with his startup, Wist. But days before Andrew gave his pitch, Apple sent shockwaves through the industry by announcing their new headset, the Vision Pro. Will investors be skittish about the tech giant entering the space? Or is it a sign that VR’s big moment has finally arrived? You can also watch the Wist pitch on YouTube. Today’s investors are Paige Doherty, Neal Bloom, Elizabeth Yin, Mark Phillips and Charles Hudson. If you would like to invest in Wist, go to pitch.show/wist To learn more about Andrew's augmented reality startup and the investors featured on this episode, check out the Wist show page. Enjoying the podcast? Use this link to text a friend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
25/10/2340m 14s

#121 Ride iQ: Peloton for Horses

Cofounding sisters Kinsey and Jessa Lux think they’ve found the next big opportunity in sports tech, audio lessons for horseback riders. But the equestrian market is way smaller than say, running or cycling. Is a passionate market enough to excite investors, or is Ride iQ too niche to become a billion dollar business? Today’s investors are Beck Bamberger, Al Bsharah, Jillian Manus, and Howie Diamond. To learn more about Kinsey and Jessa's equestrian startup and the investors featured on this episode, check out the Ride iQ show page. And for a deep dive on the companies featured on the show, subscribe to The Pitch Insider. Enjoying the podcast? Use this link to text a friend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
18/10/2340m 0s

#120 Bevz: A Tech Bro Walks Into a Corner Store...

Jason Vego wants to disrupt an industry so old school he has to sell door to door. Yet somehow his SaaS platform for convenience stores boasts a 95% conversion rate from free trial. Another number comes up in The Pitch Room though, Jason’s ownership percentage in Bevz. Will this founder win over the investors or get the door slammed in his face? Today’s investors are Paige Doherty, Neal Bloom, Elizabeth Yin, Mark Phillips and Charles Hudson. To learn more about Jason's startup and the investors featured on this episode, check out the Bevz show page. And for a deep dive on the companies featured on the show, subscribe to The Pitch Insider. Enjoying the podcast? Use this link to text a friend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
27/09/2329m 59s

#119 Amateur Golf Society: Venture Capital vs. Private Equity

Dan Hershberg loves golf. So much so that he founded the Amateur Golf Society – a PGA-style tour that any golfer can participate in. The investors think his flexible tournament model is a hole in one. But things get complicated when they discover a majority of the company is owned by a private equity firm, not the founder. Will the VCs and the PEs come together for the love of golf? Or will this deal land in the bunker. Today’s investors are Beck Bamberger, Al Bsharah, Jillian Manus, and Howie Diamond. To learn more about Dan's golf startup and the investors featured on this episode, check out the Amateur Golf Society show page. And for a deep dive on the companies featured on the show, subscribe to The Pitch Insider. Enjoying the podcast? Use this link to text a friend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
20/09/2339m 16s

#118 Uncovered: The Business of True Crime

If you're murdered in the US, there's only a 57% chance your killer will be found. Jim Brown aims to change this statistic by enabling the massive true crime community to solve cold cases on his website Uncovered.com. But mysterious circumstances in the studio lead us to a question. Can a media company produce venture scale returns by… solving murders? Today’s investors are Elizabeth Yin, Erica Wenger, Jillian Manus, Martin Tobias and Charles Hudson. To learn more about Jim's crime solving startup and the investors featured on this episode, check out the Uncovered show page. If you want to go deeper on each company featured on the show, subscribe to our newsletter The Pitch Insider. Enjoying the podcast? Use this link to text a friend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
13/09/2331m 35s

#117 Lotus: Hardware Hail Mary

Despite a decade in engineering at Apple, Dhaval Patel didn’t have any smart technology in his home. So he designed a ring that converts every home into a smart home – using old technology found in your typical TV remote. But hardware startups are extremely difficult to get off the ground and many VC’s avoid investing in them altogether. Can Dhaval convince our investors that his 10 prototype rings will turn into a 10 billion dollar business? Today’s investors are Paige Doherty, Neal Bloom, Elizabeth Yin, Mark Phillips and Charles Hudson. To learn more about Dhaval's hardware startup, Lotus, and the investors featured on this episode, check out the Lotus show page. If you want to go deeper on each company featured on the show, subscribe to our newsletter The Pitch Insider. Enjoying the podcast? Use this link to text a friend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
06/09/2333m 58s

#116 Kimoyo: Is This African Startup Venture Backable?

When Mariam Braimah led product design at Netflix she struggled to find participants in Africa to test new products. So she started Kimoyo Insights, a research analytics platform that helps companies like Microsoft & Flutterwave gather feedback from African consumers. But Kimoyo doesn’t quite fit the venture mold. Can Mariam convince investors to make a bet on user research in the data desert of Africa? Today’s investors are Erica Wenger, Jillian Manus, Martin Tobias and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
30/08/2335m 38s

#115 Gemist: The Crown Jewel of Venture

When Madeline Fraser tried to design her engagement ring online, she was stunned to find it couldn’t be done. After bringing a cash deposit to a rando in LA, Madeline got her custom ring and, with it, a new business idea. She started Gemist – a vertical SaaS product for jewelers. It's the kind of business VCs love, but that means they'll expect the business to be flawless. Will Gemist pass inspection or will slight imperfections blow the whole deal? Today’s investors are Paige Doherty, Neal Bloom, Elizabeth Yin, Mark Phillips and Charles Hudson. If you would like to invest in Gemist, go to pitch.show/gemist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
23/08/2337m 28s

Season 10: Deals, Dollars, Drama & YouTube!

We’re back for Season 10 with double the digits, double the deals, and double the drama. Your favorite investors return along with some new voices ready to shake up The Pitch Room.  And for the first time ever, we’re posting new episodes on YouTube! Don’t miss our season premiere Wednesday, August 23rd at 7PM ET. Subscribe to The Pitch Show on YouTube.  If you want to invest alongside the VCs on The Pitch join us at thepitch.fund. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
09/08/233m 31s

#114 Brevity: Your AI Pitch Coach

Co-founders Kelvin Johnson and Max Huc know first impressions are everything. That’s why they created Brevity, an AI powered software to help craft a persuasive first pitch. But pitching a pitch product to a room full of pitch experts proves to be a bit of a challenge. Which brings up a question: what's more important, the pitch itself or the Q&A? Today’s investors are Jillian Manus, Charles Hudson, Elizabeth Yin, Mac Conwell, and Neal Sáles-Griffin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
17/05/2332m 48s

#113 HILOS: Is This The Perfect Business?

The fashion industry is one of the most wasteful and inefficient industries on the planet, and Elias Stahl wants to reinvent it. His company, HILOS, is creating an entirely new supply chain for shoes, made on demand with 3D printed components. But they don’t actually design, manufacture or fulfill any of the products. They’ve just built a platform that connects all the pieces. It sounds like a perfect business… almost too perfect. Today’s investors are Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel, Mark Phillips, Victor Gutwein, and Neal Sáles-Griffin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
10/05/2330m 41s

Rapid-Fire Recap + San Diego Meetup 🏄‍♂️

Our next episode drops in two weeks, until then here’s the recap on what’s been happening at The Pitch. You can check out The Pitch Fund portfolio here, RSVP for our San Diego meetup on June 7th, and most importantly, subscribe to The Pitch Insider for all the best deals, company updates, and fun extras! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
26/04/233m 26s

#112 Natrion: The Holy Grail of Battery Tech

Alex Kosyakov claims to have discovered the holy grail of battery technology, a solid-state battery capable of mass production for electric vehicles. And with the ever increasing demand for EVs, investors are supercharged by this pitch. Can Alex convince them that his solid-state battery tech is better than the competition? Today’s investors are Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel, Mark Phillips, Victor Gutwein, and Neal Sáles-Griffin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
19/04/2332m 23s

#111 Stigma: Whose Business Is It Anyway?

Founder Ariana Vargas wants to destigmatize talking about mental health. So she built a social app. No wait, now it’s a Slack app for the workplace? This founder is willing to do whatever it takes to secure investment - maybe too willing. Will Ariana build the business she wants, or the one investors want?  Today’s investors are Jillian Manus, Charles Hudson, Elizabeth Yin, Mac Conwell, and Neal Sáles-Griffin. If you’ve been enjoying our comeback season, will you share The Pitch with a friend? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
12/04/2335m 41s

#110 HandsDown: The Accelerator Pitch

Jenna Sereni believes the best product recommendations come from family and friends. That’s the genesis of her social shopping app, HandsDown. Her pitch starts out like normal - until the investors flip the script and start pitching back, sending HandsDown on an entirely new path.   Today’s investors are Jillian Manus, Charles Hudson, Elizabeth Yin, Mac Conwell, and Neal Sáles-Griffin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
05/04/2337m 7s

#109 Modern Picnic: Surviving the Adpocalypse

When Ali Kaminetsky started her first job out of college, she quickly realized she didn’t have a stylish way to pack her lunch every day. So, she created Modern Picnic, a company that makes insulated vegan leather lunch boxes for women. The first two years of the company were a success. But then, in 2020, when Apple released IOS 14, it completely changed the way D2C companies scale. Now Ali needs to convince investors she’s found a new way to build a billion dollar consumer business. Today’s investors are Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel, Mark Phillips, Victor Gutwein, and Neal Sáles-Griffin If you would like to invest in Modern Picnic, go to pitch.show/picnic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
29/03/2342m 51s

#108 Qleek Pt. III: A Postmortem and a Comeback

Ismail Salhi and Johanna Hartzheim, co-founders of Qleek, have been through the wringer. They first pitched their company on our show in 2017, when an investment from a listener helped bring them back from the brink. Today we hear the rest of the story. Ismail shares the not-so-happy ending of Qleek and what it's like to pick up the pieces and try again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
22/03/2335m 27s

#107 Terrascope: A Computer Vision Tale

This tale starts with a problem Kehan Zhou found when trying to buy a hobby farm. Zillow didn’t have good search options for land and LandWatch.com was even worse, so Kehan ventured off to combine computer vision technology and satellite imagery to create a new rural property search platform, Terrascope. But the investors wonder if this innovative technology is wasted on the wrong customer. Today’s investors are Jillian Manus, Charles Hudson, Elizabeth Yin, Mac Conwell, and Neal Sáles-Griffin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
15/03/2335m 49s

#106 Dotcal: The Calendar Wars

There are tons of companies popping up in the scheduling space now that Calendly is valued at 6 billion dollars. Everyone wants to build the next billion dollar calendar app, including David Matthews, founder of Dotcal. He thinks he’s created a scheduling platform that will take over the space. But will the investors place their bets in Dotcal or is the scheduling race already overbooked?  Today’s investors are Jillian Manus, Charles Hudson, Elizabeth Yin, Phil Nadel, and Neal Sáles-Griffin. If you would like to invest in Dotcal, go to pitch.show/dotcal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
08/03/2343m 13s

#105 Teffola: Granola Guy Approved

A few years ago, Claire Smith moved back to her family farm, where they practice sustainable farming, and created Teffola. It’s granola made with an ancient Ethiopian grain called teff, which is filled with lots of protein, fiber, iron, and calcium. The only problem is… no one’s heard of it. Is it too risky to invest in a business that needs to educate consumers on a rare ancient grain and on sustainable farming practices? Today’s investors are Jillian Manus, Charles Hudson, Elizabeth Yin, Phil Nadel, and Neal Sáles-Griffin. To try the 'Granola Guy Approved' snack yourself, visit pitch.show/granola Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
01/03/2333m 36s

#104 Dressd: Red Carpet or Red Ocean?

Clothing rental companies get a bad rap in the VC world. It seems like no matter how much money investors sink into them, they always just… fail? But today’s founder thinks she found a way to make it work. Capri Wheaton is going after a demographic that always has to be red carpet ready: sorority girls.  Today’s investors are Jillian Manus, Charles Hudson, Elizabeth Yin, Mac Conwell, and Neal Sáles-Griffin. If you're interested in investing in Dressd, visit pitch.show/dressd, and if you'd like to taste the product on next week's episode, go to pitch.show/granola Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
22/02/2337m 37s

#103 Get Lost in the AWSM Sauce

AWSM Sauce founders Carl and Paul have perfected a sustainable way of making sauce. But then, they had another idea – a futuristic way of getting sauce on our plates. Will the investors see this as a two-innovations-in-one deal, or will they get lost in the sauce?  Today’s investors are Jillian Manus, Charles Hudson, Elizabeth Yin, Phil Nadel, and Neal Sáles-Griffin. Carl and Paul were kind enough to put together a sample pack of what the investors tasted in the room. So if you’d like to try some AWSM sauce yourself, head over to pitch.show/sauce and check out The Pitch Pack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
15/02/2338m 49s

#102 Tether: Bodyguard of the Grid

Founder Luis Medina Rivas travels across the world to pitch his big vision on how to solve one of the most important problems of our time - energy. His pitch is close to perfect. However, the VCs worry about the location of his company and come back to him with an easy solution, but it’s up to the founder to decide what’s right for his company. Today’s investors are Jillian Manus, Charles Hudson, Elizabeth Yin, Mac Conwell, and Neal Sáles-Griffin. If you are interested in investing in Tether, visit pitch.show/tether and if you'd like to literally taste next week's pitch alongside the investors, go to pitch.show/sauce 🌶️ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
08/02/2339m 1s

#101 Josh Pitches The Pitch

The Pitch is back! And a whole lot has changed since buying the show from Gimlet, bringing host Josh Muccio and cofounder Lisa Muccio somewhere they never thought they’d be — pitching in front of the investors…on their own show. But is the host of The Pitch any good at pitching? Today’s investors are Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel, Mark Phillips, Victor Gutwein and Neal Sáles-Griffin. Learn more about the fund and apply to invest at thepitch.fund Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
30/11/2250m 19s

Our Comeback Season Is Here!

Welcome back to The Pitch! This season, we head to Chicago to meet 14 founders with 12 business ideas big enough to change the world. Everything from a better ketchup to a potential solution to one of the biggest problems of our time - energy. The founders just need one thing... money. And on this season, investors commit over $900,000 to bring those ideas to life. Plus, for the first time, we’re letting listeners invest alongside the investors on our show. New episodes drop weekly starting February 8th. See you in The Pitch Room. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
23/11/223m 26s

Return of The Pitch

Host Josh Muccio picks up the mic once again... with some personal news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
27/07/223m 59s

#100 When Investors Take the Hot Seat

This week, we've got a show like no other. Instead of startup founders asking for money to grow their business, we hear investors Jake Chapman and Howie Diamond pitch their new venture capital fund. And they learn right away that things on the other side of the table are a lot harder. Today's potential LPs are Jillian Manus, Daniel Gulati and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
09/12/2031m 53s

#99 The Friends & Family Gap

In VC, before you pitch investors, you’re expected to get some initial cash from friends and family. Getting this money is a critical first step for a new startup. But what if your friends and family aren’t wealthy? Two founders tell us what that experience is like, and how it’s shaped the way VC investors view their companies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
04/11/2029m 48s

#98 Hello! You’ve Reached The Pitch Helpline

We're now in a business climate transformed by Covid. And founders need help figuring out how to impress investors, find new customers, and connect with potential cofounders in this uncertain time. We wanted to help out. So we got investors Elizabeth Yin from Hustle Fund and Hunter Walk from Homebrew to hop on The Pitch hotline to take your calls. The Callers: Rebecca Colett, Calyxeum Graham Hawley, TRID Shwetha Maddur, Catalyst Bryan McGehee, GATR Coolers Jeff Walsh, Illuminent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
14/10/2034m 35s

#97 Secret Sauce or Snake Oil?

Today's founder had everything going for him: a huge market, loads of experience, and $70k in monthly revenue. But then, everything went wrong. Christopher Hussain's startup, RealKey, is supposed to make the complicated mortgage lending process simpler, but his pitch left our investors scratching their heads. Today's investors are Sarah Downey, Michael Hyatt, Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
30/09/2026m 25s

#96 A Test of Time

It was three years ago, when Claire Coder went in front of our investors to pitch Aunt Flow. At the time, her startup was a very risky bet. But now, in 2020, Claire’s business has stood the test of time. We find out just how far a business can go in three years. Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel, James Altucher and Daniel Gulati. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
16/09/2033m 29s

#95 You Asked. Investors Answered. Now What?

In the spring, founders desperate for ideas about how to keep their companies afloat called in to get advice from our investors. Several months later, the economy is still far from recovering, so we called the founders back to see if the investors’ advice was working. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
26/08/2032m 58s

#94 The Breaking Point

When gyms closed at the start of the pandemic, Kevin Allen’s at-home fitness app, Row Vigor, went gangbusters. But there was a problem -- a few lines of code were preventing Kevin from cashing in. The investors present at Kevin's original pitch were Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Daniel Gulati and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
05/08/2033m 13s

#93 David vs. Godzilla

When Alon Shwartz started his parental control app, UnGlue, he thought Apple would be an ally. But then Apple decided to make their own competing product and Alon was forced to go toe-to-toe with the biggest tech company in the world. The investors present at Alon's original pitch were Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Daniel Gulati and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
15/07/2030m 27s

#92 Who Did the PPP Actually Save?

We talk to three startup founders who got money from the Paycheck Protection Program and try to find out, what did the PPP money actually do? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
01/07/2023m 29s

#91 “If We Don’t Get the Money by Friday …”

In 2018, founder Cody Candee raised $150,000 on our show. He went on to raise over a million dollars in funding that led to extraordinary growth for his startup, Bounce. But then Cody found out the hard way that to keep growing fast you have to become the boss. The investors present at Cody's original pitch were Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Nicole Verkindt, Michael Hyatt and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
10/06/2026m 46s

#90 How Startups Can Succeed in a Pandemic 2

COVID-19 has pushed many founders to attempt risky pivots with their business. Other founders are hoarding cash. And many of them are seeing VC money dry up. On today’s show, investors Sarah Downey and Phil Nadel advise four worried founders on how to keep their businesses afloat. The callers: Shannon Malkin Daniels, Encaptiv Krystin Hargrove, CoTripper Dan Brown, Up-Rite Storage Rack Chris Murphy, Brewella's Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
13/05/2030m 40s

#89 A Big Bet on an Ex-Trucker

For years, Pierre Laguerre worked as a truck driver. During those years he saw one of the biggest inefficiencies in the industry up-close: getting available drivers matched with trucks ready to get on the road. Barely a year after launch, his business, Fleeting, is growing fast. But he’ll have to convince the investors he has the technical savvy to make the company grow even faster. And he’ll need to tackle another problem: how to adapt to an industry transformed by COVID-19. Today's investors are Maia Bittner, Elizabeth Yin, Sheel Mohnot and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
06/05/2029m 28s

How I Saved My Startup

Investors are giving founders everywhere an ultimatum: just find a way to survive the next few months. This had us concerned about the entrepreneurs who’ve been on this show. Debbie Wei Mullen pitched Copper Cow Coffee to our investors a few years ago, and in this episode Debbie tells the sequence of events that led to a few early, strategic decisions made in 2020 that set up her business to outlast the pandemic. Today's investors are Alexandra Stanton, Sheel Mohnot, Charles Hudson and Phil Nadel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
22/04/2038m 33s

#88 How Startups Can Succeed in a Pandemic

In the last few weeks, COVID-19 has changed just about every business in the country. Investors everywhere are scrambling to help their startups survive the pandemic. On today’s show, investors Elizabeth Yin and Charles Hudson take calls from listeners. They advise founders on how to pivot to a remote-friendly model, how to survive the losses in the hospitality industry, and how to navigate the new fundraising landscape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
15/04/2030m 55s

#87 Uber for Pets

Last year, investors woke up to the fact that the biggest ridesharing companies still struggle to make money. But today’s founder, Aparna Srinivasan, thinks she can buck that trend by introducing pets into the equation. But our investors wonder if just being pet friendly is enough to bring in the big bones. And if it is, what’s to stop Uber from offering rides for pets too… putting SpotOn in a tight spot. Today's investors are Sarah Downey, Michael Hyatt, Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
01/04/2034m 10s

#86 If the Suit Fits, Invest.

Founder Ray Li says he can make you a custom suit, out of a quiz. And his company, Sene, is already making a profit. Ray wants to pursue the technology AND build up a cool brand but the investors wonder if Ray would be better off choosing one or the other. Today's investors are Maia Bittner, Elizabeth Yin, David Goldberg, Sheel Mohnot and Charles Hudson. If you'd like to support Sene’s efforts to manufacture surgical masks, head to senestudio.com/pages/masks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
25/03/2030m 46s

#85 Will Coronavirus Kill This Deal?

There’s a tried and true playbook in tech: get a ton of users, then figure out how to monetize them. Today’s founder, Ofo Ezeugwu, has plenty of users on his site, but the investors press Ofo about his plans to monetize. And then, complications arise when coronavirus enters the scene.  Today's investors are Sarah Downey, Michael Hyatt, Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
11/03/2035m 12s

#84 The Napkin Pitch

Tiffany Walling McGarity called in to the show and you, our listeners, voted her on to pitch the investors. But from the moment she stepped in the room, it was clear that this pitch would play out differently from the rest. On this episode, what a pitch sounds like when all you have are a few scratches on the back of the metaphorical napkin. Today's investors are Maia Bittner, Elizabeth Yin, David Goldberg, Sheel Mohnot and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
04/03/2032m 13s

#83 Can Small Bras Be a Big Market?

In VC, investors want to win big — that’s why they love highly scalable tech companies so much. But today’s founder, Jaclyn Fu, is selling actual things. Her startup, Pepper, makes real bras in a very real factory. There’s no tech except that you can buy her company’s stuff on the internet. So how do you convince investors that the opportunity is massive, when there’s nothing scalable about your startup? Today's investors are Maia Bittner, Elizabeth Yin, Sheel Mohnot and Charles Hudson. Here is Elizabeth's Twitter thread about debt vs VC financing for startups. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
19/02/2029m 32s

#82 A Deal Too Perfect to Pass Up

This is how much of a go-getter Bobbie Racette is: when she got laid off, she started a business to help thousands of other people who were out of work. Now, she has so many customers, she can’t keep up. And Michael Hyatt, our most ruthless investor, was like putty in her hands. Today's investors are Sarah Downey, Michael Hyatt, Charles Hudson and Phil Nadel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
12/02/2031m 25s

#81 Jillian to the Rescue

During our last call-in show, Thor Wood wowed us with his 30-second elevator pitch for SnapShyft, a company that matches workers with open shifts at restaurants. Now Thor will have to convince a much tougher crowd, the investors. Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Charles Hudson, Phil Nadel, Michael Hyatt and Sarah Downey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
29/01/2027m 32s

#80 Can This App Silence The Trolls?

Ben Trenda thinks he can stop the trolls on Twitter and other social spaces. He’s building Goodtalk, where famous people can have public one-on-one conversations without interruption. But if you strip away the bad, will you also lose the things that people really like about social? And if you don’t have enough people, your social network is worth nothing. Today's investors are Soraya Darabi, Sarah Downey, Michael Hyatt, Charles Hudson and Phil Nadel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
22/01/2027m 38s

#79 The Anti-JUUL

“Move fast and break things” is a mantra for a lot of startup founders — but what if the federal government is slowing you down? That’s the situation that Josh Israel is in with his startup, Hava Health. Josh needs to wait for FDA approval before he can even think about making money on his new smoking cessation vape, a process that could take three years or more. But Josh has a plan to extinguish investor’s fears. Today's investors are Nimi Katragadda, Al Doan, Sheel Mohnot and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
08/01/2028m 31s

#78 Got Goals? Grab a Cru

Tiffany Dufu has spent her career uplifting women and girls. Now, she’s turning a lifetime’s worth of expertise into a venture-backed business. Her startup, The Cru, is dedicated to helping women achieve their goals by connecting them to a network of other women. And while there’s no question that Tiffany has the right experience to pursue this mission, the question is whether the business can generate the returns investors are looking for. Today's investors are Jenny Fielding, Elizabeth Yin, David Goldberg, Sheel Mohnot and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
13/11/1930m 42s

#77 Sell Online or Go Door to Door

Kate Flynn has a plan to make her healthy snack bites stand out: skip the grocery stores, and find potential customers when and where they need a snack. It’s a strategy that’s outside of the investors’ wheelhouse, but if she can get them to try something new, they might be in for a treat. Today's investors are Nimi Katragadda, Al Doan, Sheel Mohnot and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
06/11/1929m 5s

#76 Pitchline Bonanza

Back in September, we invited listeners to call in and give us their best elevator pitch for their startup. And the response was off the hook! In this episode we play our favorite calls — and choose one lucky winner to come pitch our investors. But there’s more ... we need your help to pick one more founder for the pitch room. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
30/10/1937m 47s

#75 “I Want Bro Money Too”

The 2.4 trillion dollar fashion industry is due for a makeover, according to Andrea Madho. She says her company, Lab141, will be the biggest change to the way clothes are made in over a century. But it’s a moonshot and she knows it, now the investors know it too and will have to decide whether or not they think Andrea can get it done.  Today's investors are Soraya Darabi, Sarah Downey, Michael Hyatt, Charles Hudson and Phil Nadel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
09/10/1933m 35s

#74 Stop Killing Your Plants

Ryan Lee says he has a better way to buy plants, on his website, Rooted. To conquer the market, Ryan has a big, audacious plan, and this is his very first time pitching it to VCs. Find out if he can convince the investors that money really does grow on trees.  Today's investors are Nimi Katragadda, Al Doan, Sheel Mohnot and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
02/10/1930m 25s

#73 Enough Sales Calls Already!

For businesses, the process of buying software is brutal. Founder Andrew Hoagland launched his company to make it a breeze. In fact, he says that his startup Vetd has made it so easy that he can’t keep up with the demand he’s created … without the $2m he’s here to raise. Luckily for him, the investors get the problem. But he’ll have to convince them that his solution is the right one.  Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Charles Hudson, Phil Nadel, Michael Hyatt and Sarah Downey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
25/09/1926m 43s

#72 How Niche Is Too Niche?

Orion Brown is very early in her journey as an entrepreneur. In fact, this is her first pitch to venture capitalists! At this early stage, the investors are listening for something a bit different. They just want to know, is this a good idea in a large, untapped market? Find out if Orion can convince the investors that she’s got her finger on the next big thing.  Today's investors are Jenny Fielding, Elizabeth Yin, David Goldberg, Sheel Mohnot and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
18/09/1927m 42s

#71 Raising Kids Is Hard. So Is Raising a Startup.

When founder Jen Saxton landed a partnership with a big name retailer in the baby industry, she thought her startup, Tot Squad, was on the way to startup stardom. But five years into the deal, things just weren’t working out. In fact, they were a disaster. But that’s a good thing if you ask her. Jen says a stronger company has risen out of the ashes of that fiasco and she’s here to convince the investors that her new plan is worth the price of admission.  Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Charles Hudson, Phil Nadel, Michael Hyatt and Sarah Downey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
11/09/1930m 12s

#70 What Is Michael Phelps Jamming to Right Now?

What if you could listen to the exact same music as your favorite celebrities, at exactly the same time? That’s the question that drove NFL lineman Jason Fox to build an app for that. An app called Earbuds. Now if Jason can just cash in enough star power to secure the bag.  Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Charles Hudson, Phil Nadel and Michael Hyatt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
04/09/1929m 46s

When You Grow Too Fast

A little over a year ago, Xiao Wang came on the show to pitch his startup, Boundless. He told investors that his company was going to help immigrants cut through all the bureaucracy and paperwork required to get legal status. Today, the stakes around immigration are even higher than they were a year ago, so we wanted to see how Boundless is faring in this new world.  Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel, Daniel Gulati and Michael Hyatt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
21/08/1932m 28s

#69 When Less Is Not More

Founder Rahul Jindal might be the king of bootstrapping. And when investors see similarities between his startup, Hyde Closet, and a billion dollar business known as Rent the Runway, they start dreaming of unicorns. Until a wrinkle in the plan, snaps them back to reality.  Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Charles Hudson, Phil Nadel and Michael Hyatt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
14/08/1930m 22s

#68 Dogs & Dating: A Match Made in Heaven?

Back in May we asked entrepreneurs to call in and give us their best pitches. The winner was Leigh Isaacson and her startup Dig — a dating app for people who love dogs. In this episode, Leigh enters the pitch room and asks for $1.5 million to help get 1,000,000 new users on her app. Now Leigh just has to convince the investors that dogs and dating are a match made in Heaven.  Today's investors are Soraya Darabi, Sarah Downey, Michael Hyatt, Charles Hudson and Phil Nadel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
07/08/1933m 40s

I’ve Looked Death in the Eye

When he came on the show two years ago, Amado Guloy said his startup would change the business of animal agriculture. And the investors bought it! But since then, Amado has found himself at a crossroads between his own health and the health of Rex.  Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel, Daniel Gulati and Michael Hyatt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
17/07/1936m 31s

Fighting the 24/7 Startup Grind

Back in 2018, Margot Schmorak pitched our investors on Hostfully. It’s a startup that ushers old-style vacation-rental companies into the digital age. Margot ginned up a lot of excitement in the room that day. But then, she had to put her fundraising on hold. A year later we’ll find out whether she was able to get the ball rolling again.  Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel, Daniel Gulati and Nicole Verkindt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
26/06/1930m 16s

#67 Call-in Pitch Competition

Back in May, we invited listeners to call in and pitch us their startups. And you really delivered, giving us over 200 pitches! In this episode, we’ll play some of our favorite submissions — and then choose one lucky winner to come pitch our investors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
19/06/1937m 16s

#66 Does Anyone Really Want Your Product?

Dennis Meng’s first company was a major flop. So he started another one that could’ve saved the first. It’s called User Interviews, and he needs $4 million to get it into the hands of big companies. Will investors buy into what he’s selling now?  Today's investors are Charles Hudson, Michael Hyatt, Jillian Manus and Phil Nadel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
05/06/1935m 44s

#65 Wait, Your App Does What Exactly?

Spencer Shulem wants people to learn from their mistakes. Also, he wants to help them organize their time. Oh, and he wants to gather data on everything they do. All this is packed into a single pitch for his startup, WeDo. Can the investors dig through all the parts of his business in time to decide if they want to put their cold, hard cash behind it?  Today's investors are Alexandra Stanton, Sheel Mohnot, Charles Hudson and Phil Nadel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
15/05/1937m 7s

#64 Startup Sale! 80% Off

Ramya Possett and Rachel Lee founded BlueFoot to make tracking the competition easy for massive companies. And they think that what they’ve created is so powerful, it demands a premium price tag. One that takes the investors completely by surprise.  Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Charles Hudson, Phil Nadel, Michael Hyatt and Sarah Downey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
08/05/1936m 44s

FightCamp: A Name Change, A Game Change

When Khalil Zahar and Tommy Duquette first pitched their boxing workout startup, Hykso, the investors saw a big opportunity. They wanted to know: Could Hykso be more like Peloton, an at-home cycling system that was starting to take off? Three years later, the company is trying to do just that — and it’s been a wild ride.  Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel, Howie Diamond and Jake Chapman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
17/04/1948m 32s

#63 Can A Startup Solve Homelessness?

Jonathan Kumar pitches his startup, Samaritan, which aims to help people who’ve lost their homes. But can he convince the investors it’s OK to earn a profit off of homelessness?  Today's investors are Charles Hudson, Michael Hyatt, Jillian Manus and Phil Nadel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
10/04/1932m 45s

#62 Pivot or Die

Ben Walters came on the show to sell the investors on Feedback, an app that lets restaurants change their prices on the fly. But when Ben shows up in the pitch room, he’s already decided that it’s time to make some changes to the business. Can he get the investors salivating over a startup that’s mid-pivot?  Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Charles Hudson, Phil Nadel, Michael Hyatt and Sarah Downey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
03/04/1938m 32s

From Startup Novice to Veteran

After a stellar pitch on our show back in 2017 — one that got $100K in the first five minutes — founder Mike Slagh hit the ground running with his startup, Shift. In this episode, we catch up with him to find out if Shift, a job-placement service for military vets, has continued to dazzle investors. Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel, James Altucher and Daniel Gulati. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
20/03/1934m 47s

#61 Can a Zebra Survive in a Unicorn World?

Jennifer Brandel of Hearken is pitching a new kind of business. She calls it a zebra: a company that’s driven by a mission — but still wants to make money. And Jennifer’s mission with Hearken is to help journalists do their jobs better. But can she and the investors get on the same page?  Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Charles Hudson, Phil Nadel, Michael Hyatt and Sarah Downey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
13/03/1937m 58s

#60 Is This the Amazon Prime of Airline Tickets?

Rama Poola is here pitching his airline ticket business, SkyHi, where customers pay a monthly fee to access tickets on the cheap. But the investors are worried that it sounds a lot like MoviePass, a company that offered a subscription for unlimited movie tickets — and ran into a world of problems. Can Rama convince them that his model won’t break the bank?  Today's investors are Alexandra Stanton, Sheel Mohnot, Charles Hudson and Phil Nadel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
06/03/1932m 17s

#59 Disrupting Work Happy Hour

Ryan Husk wants to take your workplace culture up a notch. His startup, Culture Force, matches companies to “experiences” designed to improve community at work. He says it can be a huge business, but the investors want to know why it’s more than just a cool way to plan work parties.  Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Charles Hudson, Phil Nadel and Michael Hyatt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
27/02/1931m 58s

#58 Park Your Pooch Here

Chelsea Brownridge wants to help dog owners keep their pooches safe when they’re out running errands together. Her startup, DogSpot, makes internet-connected dog houses, with features like webcams and A/C, and puts them in front of retail stores that don’t allow pets. Can Chelsea convince our investors that her dog houses are a must-have?  Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Charles Hudson, Phil Nadel and Michael Hyatt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
20/02/1936m 26s

#57 Where Losers Go To Win

After losing his shirt on sports betting sites DraftKings and FanDuel, Adam Weinstein decided to flip the script on daily fantasy sports and give everyone a better shot at winning. He’s changing things up using prop bets instead of traditional fantasy teams. But the question remains: Is this a gamble investors are willing to take?  Today's investors are Sarah Downey, Michael Hyatt, Charles Hudson and Phil Nadel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
13/02/1931m 5s

‘It Was a Disaster’

After a failed pitch on our show back in 2017, Industrial Organic founder Amanda Weeks was ready for redemption. And she found it, to the tune of $4.2 million. Now she’s back — with a lot to say about how much she and her business have grown.  Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Jake Chapman, Howie Diamond and Sheel Mohnot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
06/02/1940m 31s

#56 Shark Tank vs. The Pitch

Zahra Kassam has been on the road in a major way, pitching her startup, Monti Kids. A few months before our show, she pitched on ABC’s “Shark Tank.” Today we find out: Did she win over any investors in her two very public pitches? And how do our investors compare to pitching the sharks?  Today's investors are Alexandra Stanton, Sheel Mohnot, Charles Hudson and Phil Nadel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
30/01/1944m 27s

#55 A New Spin on VR

Tom Impallomeni is here to pitch Tribe XR, a VR app that teaches people to DJ. He’s got a vision for using virtual reality to teach creative skills — but the investors are skeptical. Can Tom convince them he’s putting the right spin on VR?  Today's investors are Sarah Downey, Michael Hyatt, Charles Hudson and Phil Nadel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
23/01/1938m 54s

#54 Is Selling in Walmart a Good Thing?

Debbie Wei Mullin is pitching her pour-over Vietnamese coffee startup, Copper Cow Coffee. The company is already doing well on Walmart’s shelves. But does she have what it takes to take the brand online?  Today's investors are Alexandra Stanton, Jake Chapman, Charles Hudson and Phil Nadel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
16/01/1937m 0s

Is the ICO Gold Rush Over?

After a frustrating round of fundraising for her company PopCom, Dawn Dickson decided that VC was broken. She opted to take a different route: an initial coin offering, or ICO. But then her best-laid plans got all mucked up ... by Uncle Sam.  Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel, Daniel Gulati and Michael Hyatt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
09/01/1936m 40s

#53 Investors Get Feisty at Our Philly Pitch-off

This week, The Pitch is live from The Wharton School at the University of Philadelphia. Three of Philly’s most promising young startups take the stage in front of Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus and a packed house for a live pitch competition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
12/12/1840m 31s

After the Pitch: Sudden Coffee

Back in 2016, Sudden Coffee founders Joshua Zloof and Kalle Freese tried to sell the investors on their premium instant coffee. Two years later, we checked back in with Joshua and found that Sudden Coffee is still working out some kinks in the business: trying to find the right customers and nailing the flavor.  Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Jake Chapman and Howie Diamond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
05/12/1838m 2s

#52 Fitbit … for Dogs

Susan Sierota wants to help dog owners keep their furry friends healthy with her pet-tech startup, Waggit. Can she convince the four investors that her smart collar will win best in show?  Today's investors are Alexandra Stanton, Jake Chapman, Charles Hudson and Phil Nadel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
31/10/1828m 45s

#51 This Bot Can Fight Your ATM Fees

Founder Paul Kesserwani says we’re all losing way too much money to fees — credit card fees, bank fees, ATM fees. And he thinks his company, Cushion, has the answer: A friendly bot that will battle those fees for you. Can he convince investors that there’s major money to be made in the fee-fighting business?  Today's investors are Howie Diamond, Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel, and Michael Hyatt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
24/10/1834m 0s

#50 Ticket Scalpers, Beware! Blockchain Is Coming for You.

Why should you care about blockchain if you’re not a huge cryptocurrency nerd? Bandwagon founder Harold Hughes says it can help you score better seats to see your favorite team — and avoid the risk of walking up to the gate with a fake ticket. Can he convince investors his startup isn’t just a part of the blockchain bubble?  Today's investors are Howie Diamond, Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel, and Michael Hyatt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
17/10/1833m 29s

#49 Nuts Can Kill. Are Seeds the Answer?

Blake Sorensen has a deathly nut allergy — one that's led to some harrowing trips to the ER. But then he decided that enough was enough. So he started a company, Blake’s Seed Based, to make snacks safe for people like him. Will the investors get on board with his mission?  Today's investors are Alexandra Stanton, Jake Chapman, Charles Hudson and Phil Nadel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
10/10/1834m 25s

#48 Will This Space Startup Make It off the Ground?

Atomos co-founders Vanessa Clark and William Kowalski want to build a nuclear-powered spacecraft for moving satellites around in orbit. Can they capitalize on all the new money flowing into the final frontier — or will their sci-fi ambitions be too much for investors to stomach?  Today's investors are Howie Diamond, Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel, and Michael Hyatt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
03/10/1834m 21s

#47 Can This Tiny Gadget Keep Kids in College?

The college dropout rate is high, and schools are paying the price... to the tune of billions of dollars every year. Marquett Burton says his education startup can help solve the problem. Will the investors agree?  Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Nicole Verkindt, Michael Hyatt and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
26/09/1831m 43s

#46 Never Get Lost Again

Somewear founder James Kubik thinks going off the grid shouldn’t have to mean going out of cell phone range. That’s why he created a device that turns smartphones into satellite communication hubs. Can he convince investors to join him on the trail?  Today's investors are Alexandra Stanton, Jake Chapman, Charles Hudson and Phil Nadel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
19/09/1829m 4s

#45 Whatever Happened to Virtual Reality?

Sophia Dominguez is on the show pitching SVRF, an augmented reality/virtual reality startup. But it can be tough to get investors excited about VR, which has attracted tons of hype—without much payoff. Can Sophia convince investors that VR’s time has finally come?  Today's investors are Howie Diamond, Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel, and Michael Hyatt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
12/09/1837m 36s

#44 Is This Sports App the Next OpenTable?

Finnish entrepreneur Topias Soininen says his startup, Playven, will revolutionize the way people book tennis courts. But first, the investors have to figure out exactly what it is he’s pitching.  Today's investors are Howie Diamond, Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel, and Michael Hyatt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
05/09/1833m 5s

#43 Get This Party Startup in Here

Entrepreneur Julie Roth Novack says her party planning platform is exactly what event professionals have been missing. And it all hinges on a secret ingredient—something Julie calls "marketing gold". Now she just needs investors to fork over some gold of their own.  Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Nicole Verkindt, Michael Hyatt and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
29/08/1827m 30s

#42 How Much Do You Trust Your Barista?

Cody Candee believes his company, Bounce, is the key to freeing us from the stuff we lug around all day. But can he convince investors that his temporary storage solution isn’t a liability disaster waiting to happen?  Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Nicole Verkindt, Michael Hyatt and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
22/08/1834m 57s

#41 Can This Startup Help Retailers Take on Amazon?

Amazon is on track to grab nearly HALF of all online retail sales this year. But not if Chelsie Lee’s startup Shipsi has a say in the matter. She wants to give online retailers the ability to compete, by helping them offer super speedy shipping. But it might not be easy with the retail Goliath breathing down her neck.  Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Michael Hyatt, Nicole Verkindt and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
15/08/1837m 25s

#40 Three Startups Enter. Only One Will Leave.

At The Pitch’s first-ever live show, three startups face off: Honeyfi, a budgeting app for couples; CBlocks, a cryptocurrency starter kit; and OpenBottle, an app to help people try high-end wines. But can the investors agree on which company should take home the prize? Today's investors are Jillian Manus and Michael Hyatt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
01/08/1851m 5s

#39 This Pitch is Damn Near Perfect

Stefan Loble wows the room with his near perfect pitch for Bluffworks, a company that makes travel-business attire. But is his compelling story enough to get investors to sign on? Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Michael Hyatt, Nicole Verkindt and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
13/06/1844m 20s

#38 A Beauty Industry Veteran Goes Rogue

Tina Hedges believes the future of beauty is all-natural, organic products. But the investors aren’t sure what to make of her food-grade products for your face.  Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Michael Hyatt, Nicole Verkindt and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
06/06/1830m 38s

#37 Can Tech Solve America’s Drug Crisis?

Founder David Sarabia’s experience with drug addiction inspired him to build an app, called inRecovery. It’s meant to help people who are in rehab. But can he get the rehab centers on board?  Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Michael Hyatt, Nicole Verkindt and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
30/05/1830m 58s

#36 When Two Startups Love Each Other Very Much ...

Margot Schmorak says half of all vacation rentals aren’t listed online—and she sees that as a big opportunity for her startup. But things get messy in the pitch room when Margot reveals that Hostfully comes with a little extra baggage. Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel, Daniel Gulati and Nicole Verkindt. You'll find Margot's AMA hosted on the /r/Entrepreneur subreddit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
23/05/1832m 50s

#35 The Proof Is in the Pudding

Max Pouvreau has built gourmet pudding company Petit Pot with his Michelin star background and scrappy customer acquisition. Now he wants VC backing to take it to the next level—and potentially a big acquisition.  Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel, Daniel Gulati and Michael Hyatt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
16/05/1831m 51s

#34 Can Storytime Become Big Business?

Max Tuchman is on a roll with Caribu, an app that lets parents and kids read together virtually. But can she convince investors that early success will lead to future returns? Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Michael Hyatt, Nicole Verkindt and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
09/05/1831m 16s

#33 What Is a Startup Actually Worth?

Jared Kugel needs a million dollars to get Tire Agent up and running. But things get tense in the pitch room when investors start questioning the value of his company. Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel, Daniel Gulati and Michael Hyatt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
02/05/1827m 43s

#32 Is Immigration the Next Venture-Scale Business?

The U.S. immigration system is a bureaucratic nightmare. And it’s only getting worse. Founder Xiao Wang has a plan to solve that with his startup, Boundless. Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel, Daniel Gulati and Michael Hyatt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
25/04/1831m 9s

#31 Are Vending Machines the Future of Retail?

When you think of cutting edge technology, it’s unlikely vending machines pop to mind. But Dawn Dickson has a plan to change that with her startup, PopCom.  Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel, Daniel Gulati and Michael Hyatt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
18/04/1833m 55s

#30 Can This Founder Reclaim Cocktail Hour?

Craft cocktails are all the rage—but they tend come with high price tags and long wait times. Swig + Swallow founder April Wachtel wants to bring the craft experience out of the bar and into your home.  Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel, Daniel Gulati and Nicole Verkindt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
11/04/1829m 39s

#29 Could This Be the Next Airbnb?

When Tye and Courtney Caldwell were having trouble renting space in their salon, they thought: why isn't there an app for this? So they created one, ShearShare. But can they convince investors that their skills will transfer from the barbershop to the boardroom?  Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel, Daniel Gulati and Nicole Verkindt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
04/04/1839m 28s

#28 Is This Entrepreneur Ready to Take On Facebook?

Facebook is the undisputed king of social networks. But Cesar Kuriyama thinks his app, 1 Second Everyday, could topple the giant. If he’s going to do that, he’ll need some serious cash. Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Daniel Gulati and Michael Hyatt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
28/03/1833m 14s

#27 Qleek Pt. II: What Happened After The Pitch

The surprising story of what happened to one startup after its founders pitched to investors—and thousands of listeners. Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, James Altucher, Daniel Gulati and Matteo Terrevazzi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
21/02/1825m 45s

#26 Dynofit

Maria Schneider wants to take physical therapy out of the clinic and into the home with the help of a small device. But is her technology the answer patients and doctors have been waiting for? Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, James Altucher and Daniel Gulati. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
14/02/1832m 56s

#25 Rex

When scientist Amado Guloy saw an opportunity to combine farm animals and big data, he traded the laboratory for the boardroom and created Rex Animal Health. But can he convince investors he’s got what it takes to make it in the business world? Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Daniel Gulati and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
08/02/1833m 47s

#24 unGlue

The apps on our smartphones seem to be engineered for addiction. Alon Shwartz wants to fight this with an app of his own: unGlue. Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Daniel Gulati and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
31/01/1831m 29s

#23 Jiobit

After John Renaldi lost track of his kid on a trip to downtown Chicago, he vowed never to be in that situation again. So he created Jiobit, a tiny geotracker for kids. Can he convince investors that his device stands out among a sea of competitors? Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, James Altucher and Daniel Gulati. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
24/01/1833m 51s

#22 Investor FOMO: Lunar Wireless

Hunter Rosenblume is pitching Lunar Wireless, a company he co-founded as an answer to pricey cell phone plans. But getting investors to gamble on a 22-year-old who claims he can take on a decades-old industry is a hard sell. Is a healthy dose of FOMO enough to change their minds? Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Daniel Gulati and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
17/01/1838m 10s

#21 Metabrew

Romy Raad and her cofounder have created Metabrew, a healthy beverage they believe could replace your morning coffee. But can they get investors buzzing about this plant-based substitute? Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Daniel Gulati and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
10/01/1833m 22s

#20 Harper Wilde

The founders of Harper Wilde want to take the B.S. out of bra shopping. That means convincing our investors that they’ve found a way to turn it from a major inconvenience into an easy at-home experience. Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Daniel Gulati and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
20/12/1740m 19s

#19 Ghosted: Sandbox

When Sterling Smith left his job as a software developer to start Sandbox Commerce, he knew he had the skills to build great mobile apps. But in a world where it seems everybody has an app, can he convince investors there’s really an opportunity here? Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, James Altucher and Daniel Gulati. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
13/12/1739m 57s

#18 ROWViGOR

Co-founders Kevin Allen and Moses McCall think rowing is the next big trend in fitness. To cash in on their hunch, they need to convince investors they can make waves in a space already crowded with competitors. Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Daniel Gulati and Charles Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
06/12/1736m 16s

#17 Investor Spotlight: Jillian Manus

You’re probably familiar with Jillian Manus the investor — but in this episode, we dig in a little deeper to understand how she became the VC force she is today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
29/11/1724m 7s

#16 Qleek

After Ismail Salhi discovered his father’s old record collection gathering dust in the attic, he teamed up with Johanna Hartzheim to create Qleek. Together they hope to marry the nostalgia of vinyl with the convenience of digital music. But first they need investors to catch on to their tune. Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, James Altucher and Daniel Gulati. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
15/11/1740m 10s

#15 A Veteran Starts a Startup: Shift

When Mike Slagh left the military, he wanted to find a job in tech, but he couldn’t get his foot in the door. And then he found out that he was one of approximately 300,000 service members who every year struggle to make the transition back into the workforce. So Mike decided to do something about it and started Shift.  Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, James Altucher and Daniel Gulati. Our show is produced by Josh Muccio, Kareem Maddox, and Molly Donahue. We are edited by Devon Taylor. Our Theme Music is by Breakmaster Cylinder, with original music composed by The Muse Maker, Bobby Lord and Haley Shaw. We were mixed by Enoch Kim with help from Matt Boll. Lisa Muccio plans our recording events and thanks to Asthaa Chaturvedi for her reporting on this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
08/11/1738m 58s

#14 The Ghost of Startups Past: Tushy

Miki Agrawal made headlines with the success of her first company Thinx—until she became the headline. Now she's ready for a comeback with Tushy, her new business built on making bidets mainstream in America. But first she has to convince investors she's learned from her past.  Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, James Altucher and Daniel Gulati. Our show is produced by Josh Muccio, Molly Donahue, and Kareem Maddox. We are edited by Devon Taylor. Our theme music is by Breakmaster Cylinder, with original music composed by The Muse Maker, Bobby Lord, and Person B Productions. We were mixed by Enoch Kim with help from Matt Boll. Lisa Muccio plans our recording events and thanks to Asthaa Chaturvedi for her reporting on this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
01/11/1742m 46s

#13 Meet the Investors

The entrepreneurs usually own the spotlight on our show. But venture capital is a two-way street. On today’s episode, we hear from the people who make deals happen: our investors. Who are they and how did they become the ones calling the shots? Today's investors are Jillian Manus, Phil Nadel and Daniel Gulati. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
25/10/1725m 20s

#12 "I Don't Need Your Money" Teamable

Entrepreneur Laura Bilazarian has an innovative solution for helping companies find great talent. But to convince investors, she’ll need to walk a razor’s edge between confidence and cockiness. Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Jake Chapman, Howie Diamond and Sheel Mohnot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
30/08/1739m 14s

#11 Tesloop

Haydn Sonnad pitches his plan to revolutionize regional transit on the back of Tesla’s electric charging network. But there’s a catch: this entrepreneur has to run his company between English class and Algebra. Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Jake Chapman and Howie Diamond. Extra: Haydn asks Elon Musk a question Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
23/08/1734m 38s

#10 Sudden Coffee

Two entrepreneurs believe they have the secret to making premium instant coffee. Will their startup hold up to a taste test with investors?  Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Jake Chapman and Howie Diamond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
16/08/1734m 10s

#9 Tuckrbox

Co-founders Meghan Carreau and Alex Payne are pitching their food delivery service built on noble ideals of making kids healthier and reducing headaches for parents. Can the founders convince investors that their startup will actually deliver on those promises? Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Jake Chapman, Howie Diamond and Sheel Mohnot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
09/08/1736m 4s

#8 Hykso

Could a little sensor designed to measure punches be the next big hit in a long line of fitness fads? The founders of Hykso think so. Now they just need to last a few rounds in the ring with our investors.  Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Jake Chapman and Howie Diamond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
02/08/1737m 19s

#7 Shimmur

The social media landscape is a veritable graveyard of failed startups, but Matthew Peltier believes his company, Shimmur, is different. With a growing user base and a solid plan for revenue, he’s almost ready to go... all he needs now is a few hundred thousand dollars from investors. Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Jake Chapman and Howie Diamond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
26/07/1738m 59s

#6 Guru Games

Between classes, part-time jobs, and social lives, college students Evan Thomas and Troy Pettie have been moonlighting to build a business they hope will bring millennials back into casinos. Will our investors be willing to take a gamble on Guru Games? Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Jake Chapman and Howie Diamond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
19/07/1738m 6s

#5 FITGuard

Concussions have cast a major shadow over contact sports, from youth leagues to the pros. But entrepreneur Anthony Gonzales thinks he can fix it by putting a gadget in the mouths of athletes. Now he just has to convince investors to put their dollars behind his idea. Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Jake Chapman, Howie Diamond and Sheel Mohnot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
12/07/1738m 40s

#4 Skylights

David Dicko is bringing virtual reality to the skies. It’s an ambitious plan, and he’s going to need $1.8 million to take off in a punishing market. Will the investors trust his team to succeed where so many others have failed? Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Jake Chapman, Howie Diamond and Sheel Mohnot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
05/07/1738m 36s

#3 Industrial Organic

Most of us stop thinking about our food scraps once we take the trash to the curb. Not so for Amanda Weeks, who started a food waste company designed to reduce harmful greenhouse gases. Now she just needs investors to get behind her plan to save the planet. Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Jake Chapman, Howie Diamond and Sheel Mohnot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
28/06/1732m 48s

#2 iMirror

The hotel room hasn’t seen disruption since the addition of the television in the 1950s. Pieter Boekhoff wants to change that—by transforming what happens when we look in the mirror. But first, he has to convince investors that there's money to be made in hospitality. Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Jake Chapman, Howie Diamond and Sheel Mohnot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
21/06/1735m 7s

#1 Babyscripts

Juan-Pablo Segura has built an app that he’s sure will revolutionize the way expectant mothers receive medical care. But first he needs to convince a panel of investors to bankroll his plan—to the tune of a million dollars. Today's investors are Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Jake Chapman and Howie Diamond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
14/06/1736m 59s

Welcome to The Pitch!

Introducing The Pitch, where real entrepreneurs pitch to real investors—for real money. New episodes come out on Wednesdays. See you in The Pitch room! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
07/06/171m 49s
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